Tele Project - My First Guitar Build

Mr Real Nice

Senior Member
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I started a photobucket album to show the progress of my first guitar build.  Comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome!  Here's a pic of it right out of the box to get started.  You can see the rest of the pics at http://www.photobucket.com/teleproject.  I'll post here when I've updated the album.

HPIM2770.jpg
 
Cool!  I like the idea of a tele with three humbuckers!  What kind of finish are you going to use, and what kind of bridge?
 
It's actually only going to have 2 humbuckers.  I left my options open by having the 3rd one routed.  :)  It's going to be an opaque lime green finish and it's going to have the Gotoh Hardtail bridge found here:  http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_non-trem_bridges/Gotoh_Hardtail_Bridge.html
 
A Southpaw Tele with Buckers... Something in there to make every one here happy (if you don't forget the maching neckplate..)

Can you tell us a bit more about your plans? It's solid mahogany, right? What neck is going on it? And what kind of humbuckers?

 
Sure, here's my complete list of details...

Solid mahogany body with 2 humbuckers (to start out with).  Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates Plus in the bridge and SD SH-1N in the neck with metal mounting rings and a clear pickguard with the back of it painted the same color as the body.  It's going to be finished in an opaque lime green poly.  All the chrome hardware I buy is going to be re-plated in a "smoked chrome" color.  The neck is going to be a Warmoth Pro Tele style in mahogany with a rosewood fretboard and abalone dots.  Satin finish and SS frets.  Schaller tuners.

And then when it's all done, it'll be strung right-handed.  ;)
 
No, why?  It sounds interesting on the warmoth page, but then all of them sound pretty interesting.  It's hard to tell without actually experiencing it.  Have you had experience with pau ferro?
 
DSC_4343s.jpg


Think it would contrast well with the lime green.
Have a look at some from the showcase and the 1-off specials so you have an overview of the different variations.
Pau Ferro's currently my favourite fingerbord wood.

 
That's funny because the possibility of the rosewood being too dark was the only thing I was worried about, but I definitely didn't want to go maple.  I'll look into that.  I just hope it doesn't give a drastically different sound.  Based on Warmoth's "Tone-O-Meter" it's pretty opposite...
 
I can appreciate the uniqueness of your concept, but aren't the controls going to get in your way?
 
Where are you going to get the custom pickguard? You drilling the string through holes for the brdige yourself?
 
DocNrock said:
I can appreciate the uniqueness of your concept, but aren't the controls going to get in your way?

haha, one of the main reasons I'm building this thing is so that the controls won't be in my way.  I'm lefty, but I play right-handed guitars.  I have a right-handed piece of crap strat knock-off at the moment and I play it left-handed (not restrung).  I also have a righty acoustic but that's not a problem to just flip and play.  I learned that way by accident when I was young, and I've just gotten used to it.

jackthehack said:
Where are you going to get the custom pickguard? You drilling the string through holes for the brdige yourself?

I'm getting the pickguard from http://www.pickguardian.com/.  I was already quoted $45 + $6 shipping.  I had the bridge holes drilled locally at a shop here in Boston.  Check out http://www.photobucket.com/teleproject for pics of the bridge holes.
 
I'm now in the process of spraying the paint.  Just wanted to give a heads-up in case anyone wants to check the progress.  Pics will be updated throughout today and possibly tomorrow (depending on the weather):  http://www.photobucket.com/teleproject
 
Mr Real Nice said:
And then when it's all done, it'll be strung right-handed.  ;)

I could see that on almost any other body BUT a Tele  :icon_scratch:  I'm sure you have your reasons...
 
Ok, I sprayed the 8th coat, which I feel like should be enough.  It doesn't look very vibrant, though, or "wet."  This stuff seems to dry almost instantly (dupont chromabase urethane paint).  I really hope the clear coat livens it up.  Anyone have any thoughts?
 
Mr Real Nice said:
Ok, I sprayed the 8th coat, which I feel like should be enough.  It doesn't look very vibrant, though, or "wet."  This stuff seems to dry almost instantly (dupont chromabase urethane paint).  I really hope the clear coat livens it up.  Anyone have any thoughts?

It's hard to judge from the photos but it seems to me the paint is a bit "dry" as it leaves the gun. I would suggest sanding back and applying a couple of wetter color coats before going to clear. :dontknow:
 
Mr Real Nice said:
I'm getting the pickguard from http://www.pickguardian.com/.  I was already quoted $45 + $6 shipping.  I had the bridge holes drilled locally at a shop here in Boston.  Check out http://www.photobucket.com/teleproject for pics of the bridge holes.

If you order from http://www.pickguardcorner.com it is 33 dollars and shipping is negotiable. I got them down to 12 dollars which would save you 6 bucks... worth considering.
 
willyk said:
Mr Real Nice said:
Ok, I sprayed the 8th coat, which I feel like should be enough.  It doesn't look very vibrant, though, or "wet."  This stuff seems to dry almost instantly (dupont chromabase urethane paint).  I really hope the clear coat livens it up.  Anyone have any thoughts?

It's hard to judge from the photos but it seems to me the paint is a bit "dry" as it leaves the gun. I would suggest sanding back and applying a couple of wetter color coats before going to clear. :dontknow:

I appreciate the input, although I already went ahead and started the clear coats.  It looks great so far!  :icon_thumright:  Today I'm putting on the second set of coats and then I'll be sanding and polishing soon enough.  :headbang:
 
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